Misaligned end cap detecting mechanism for a capping device

ABSTRACT

A detecting mechanism in a capping device of a spooling machine for detecting an improperly capped magazine by sensing a predetermined level of interference between a magazine and an end cap during the capping operation, and in response thereto actuating a control circuit for controlling several operations such as, among other things, inhibiting the operation of a staking mechanism, stopping the spooling machine including the capping device after it has completed a cycle of operation, opening a reject chute to receive the improperly capped magazine, and alerting the operator by actuating a signal device. Any interference between the end cap and magazine equal to or in excess of the predetermined level causes relative movement between the staking mechanism and a staking head which moves the staking mechanism to its staking position. Such relative movement causes leakage in a positive or negative fluid pressure system of the detecting mechanism resulting in a change in pressure which is sensed by a fluidic sensor of the detecting mechanism. The sensor is interrogated by an interrogating input in the form of a voltage pulse, and the interrogating pulse in combination with a change in pressure actuates a flip-flop circuit to initiate the aforementioned operations.

United States Patent 91 Lorenzini et al.

MISALIGNED END CAP DETECTING Primary Examiner-Travis S. McGeheeAttorneyWilliam T. French et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A detecting mechanism in a capping device of a spoolingmachine for detecting an improperly capped magazine by sensing apredetermined level of interference between a magazine and an end capduring the capping operation, and in response thereto actuating acontrol circuit for controlling several operations such as, among otherthings, inhibiting the operation of a staking mechanism, stopping thespooling machine including the capping device after it has completed acycle of operation, opening a reject chute to receive the improperlycapped magazine, and alerting the operator by actuating a signal device.Any interference between the end cap and magazine equal to or in excessof the predetermined level causes relative movement between the stakingmechanism and a staking head which moves the staking mechanism to itsstaking position. Such relative movement causes leakage in a positive ornegative fluid pressure system of the detecting mechanism resulting in achange in pressure which is sensed by a fluidic sensor of the detectingmechanism. The sensor is interrogated by an interrogating input in theform of a voltage pulse, and the interrogating pulse in combination witha change in pressure actuates a flip-flop circuit to initiate theaforementioned operations.

7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATH-HED FR 3 I975 sum 1 0F 5 RA YMO/VDLORENZ/NI R/CHARD K/NSELLA INVENTORS llllll ATTORNEY PATENTED R 3 I973sum 2 or 3 FIG. 5

FIG. 4

RAYMOND LORENZ/NI RICHARD KIA/SELLA INVENTORS BY 4% 0 fiwg ATTORNEY P-mums ms 3, 724. 162

SHEH 3 UF 3 FLU/0 VALVE FLU/0 TO POST 52 SOLE/VO/D CYLINDER LOG/C FLU/DVALVE T 522 r0 SHAFT 86 snmr CONTROL sow/vow spoou/va MACH/NE lNH/B/TTERMI'NAL INTERROGAT/O/V 7 INPUT AND FLIP FLOP ANNUNC/ATOR FLUID/C GATEB/STABLE SENSOR CIRCUIT REJECT CHUTE' ACTUATOR RAYMOND LORENZ/NI RICHARDK/NSELLA INVENTORS A TTOR/VEY MISALIGNED END CAP DETECTING MECHANISM FORA CAPPING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the InventionThis invention relates generally to detectors, and more specifically toa detecting mechanism for a magazine capping device for detectinginterference between a magazine and an end cap during the cappingoperation, indicating an improperly aligned cap.

2. Description of the Prior Art It is known in the photographic industryto provide cylindrical film cans or magazines having a light-tight capat one end and a light-tight magazine mouth formed by axially extending,peripheral spaced apart lips to which plush material is secured infacing relation. ln the manufacture of film magazines under dark roomconditions, a roll of unexposed light-sensitive film is fed into theouter free end of such a magazine with a leading end thereof extendingthrough the light-tight mouth of the magazine. The magazine containingthe film is positioned in a forming or capping jaw which properly cappedmagazine, and alerting the operator. In a preferred embodiment of thedetecting mechanism, staking fingers of an axially movable stakingmechanism engage an end cap and mountit onto the end of the magazinewhich extends into a cylindrical anvil. After the end cap is mounted, astaking power means is operated for expanding the staking fingers andcausing them to press or crimp the inner rim of the end cap to the endof the magazine. The staking fingers are mounted for axial movementrelative to a supporting staking head, and portions of the fingers andhead are biased by a spring to a normal position into engagement withone another for holding the fingers and head together as a unit.However, in the event interference in excess of the spring force shouldoccur between the end cap and the magazine during movement of thestaking head to its staking position, such interference will stopfurther advance of the staking fingers while compresses the outer freeend of the magazine to the precise shape for receiving an end cap. Anend cap is fed from an end cap source to a position in alignment withthe magazine, and the end cap advanced by a staking mechanism onto orover the free end of the magazine. A portion of the staking mechanism isexpanded crimping the rim of the end cap to theend of the magazine toform a light-tight film magazine. Problems have arisen in situations inwhich the magazine and/or end cap are improperly positioned, bent ortilted, and for this or any other reason the cap is improperly stakedonto the magazine. When this occurs, interference results between theend cap and magazine during the cap staking operation. Improperly stakedcaps normally result in a magazine light-leak and subsequent fogging ofthe film when the defective magazine is brought out of the dark roominto light. Unfortunately, improperly staked magazines are often notreadily discovered, and when sold to customers are used resulting inspoiled photographs of scenes that sometimes cannot readily be retaken.This problem of the sale to customers of defective magazines due toimproperly staked end caps, and subsequent spoiled photographs, issolved in this invention by a detecting mechanism for detecting apredetermined level of interference between the end cap and magazineduring the capping operation, and in response thereto initiating one ormore of the following operations, namely inhibiting the stakingoperation, stopping the spooling machine including the capping deviceafter it has completed a cycle of operation, discharging the improperlycapped magazine into a reject bin, and alerting the operator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention includes within its scope adetecting mechanism for detecting interference above a predeterminedlevel between an end cap and a magazine during a capping operationindicating a defective capped magazine. In response to the detection ofsuch interference, suitable means are actuated for inhibiting thestaking operation, stopping the spooling machine including the cappingdevice after it has completed a cycle of operation, rejecting the imtheremainder of the staking head continues its motion towards the stakingposition against the bias of the spring. Any such relative movementbetween the staking fingers and head causes an annular ring interposedbetween the staking fingers and spring to move from its normal closedposition preventing fluid leakage in a positive or negative fluidpressure system to an open position in which fluid leakage and a changein pressure occurs. Such fluid leakage causes a change in pressure inthe pressure system which is sensed by any suitable fluidic sensor, andin response thereto generates a control signal, which in combinationwith an interrogating pulse from a logic'control system, actuates aflip-flop bistable circuit or the like for, among other things,inhibiting the-staking operation, stopping the spooling machineincluding the capping device after it has completed a cycle ofoperation, discharging the improperly capped magazine into a reject bin,and alerting the operator.

Accordingly, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide adetecting mechanism in a capping device for detecting interference abovea predetermined level between a magazine and an end cap mounted on themagazine during a capping operation, and in response to such detection,inhibiting staking of the mounted cap to the magazine during the cappingoperation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved capping devicefor film magazines that eliminates the production of defective filmmagazines suffering from light-leak due to improperly staked end caps.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved capping devicefor film magazines that eliminates the production of defective filmmagazines in which the photosensitive film contained therein is exposedor fogg'ed when the film magazine is brought out of the dark room intodaylight.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved capping devicefor film magazinesv having means for detecting interference above apredetermined value between a magazine and an end cap as it is mountedthereon, and in response to such detection to, among other things,inhibit staking of the mounted cap to the magazine, to stop the spoolingmachine including the capping device after it has completed a cycle ofoperation, to discharge the improperly capped magazine into a rejectbin, and to alert the operator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the detailed description of thepreferred embodiment of the invention presented below, reference is madeto the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a film magazine capping device inwhicha preferred embodiment of the misaligned end cap detectingmechanism of this invention is incorporated; I

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1; 1

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view with parts broken away of the cappingdevice of FIG. 1 with the face plate and staking fingers omitted forpurposes of clarity;

FIG. 4 is a section view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3; v

FIG. 5 is an enlarged segmental view in section of a film magazineshowing an end cap secured thereto; and

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view of a control system for the misaligned endcap detecting mechanism. 1

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the drawings,a preferred embodiment of the misaligned end cap detecting mechanism ofthis invention is illustrated in connection with a capping device 10 formounting an end cap 12 (FIG. 5)

onto a film magazine 14 and staking it thereto in lightshown, in properorientation for. mounting onto the end of magazine 14. The magazine, asbest seen in part in FIGS. 2 and S, is generally circular and has spacedapart lips 20, 22 to which plush material 24 is secured to form alight-tight mouth. The circular end cap 12 to be mounted onto one end.of magazine 14 has a peripheral rim formed by inner and outer walls 26,28 respectively defining an annular groove therebetween for receivingthe end of the magazine. The end caps 12 v are gravity fed one by onedown feed chute 18 to a nesting position in alignment with a circularopening 30 in face plate 16. The cylindrical wall of the face plate cap12 is fed by a forming or capping jaw mechanism,

not shown, to the dotted position illustrated in FIG. 2 in precisealignment with opening 30. The forming mechanism forms the free end ofmagazine 14 so that an end cap can be placed thereon in position to bestaked thereto. The face plate l6-is secured to an annular bushing plate34 of the staking head by a pair of bolts 36 as best seen in FIGS. 3 and4 for relative movement therebetween. Each bolt 36 has one end threadedinto face plate 16 and the head thereof at the opposite end movablewithin bores 38 in. bushing plate 34. A helical spring 40 encircles eachbolt is interposed between the face and bushing plates 16; 34respectively forurging them to a normal expanded position as seen inFIG.-4 in which the head engages the bottom of bore 38. 'The face plate16 is further provided with four guide rods 42 slidably movable withinbushings 44 carried by bushing plate 34. The bushing plate hasa cen tralopening for receiving the nose 46of an annular housing 48 and is securedto the housing by screws 49 (FIGS; 1 and 2). Thehousing 48 has a flange50 as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 to "which a pair of guide posts 52 aresecured'by nuts 54. The housing 48 bushing plate 34 and face plate 16 ofthe staking head are guided as a. unit for reciprocal movement bysupport bushings 56 in fixed frame members 58, 60 through which guideposts 52 are journaled. Reciprocal movement is imparted to the stakinghead between a normal retracted position as seen in FIG. 2 and a stakingposition. in which face plate 16 engages a stop 62 and housing 48 andbushing plate 34 are moved relative to faceplate 16 to another stop 64interposed between plate 34 and housing 48 for moving'an end cap onto amagazine by means to be explained hereinaftenSuch reciprocal movement ofthe staking head is accomplished by any known fluidcylinder meansincluding a piston rod coupled by any suitable means to posts 52. Thehousing 48 further has acentral circular opening 66 (FIG. 4) for housingcertain elements of a cap staking mechanism. The. cap staking mechanismas best seen in FIG. 2 comprises a plurality of staking levers 68 of pieshaped cross section arranged in a circle, and having hook shaped ends70 pivotally mounted on the rounded inner periphery of a ring 72. Theopposite ends of levers 68 are provided with shoes 74 for engaging theend surface of a cap 12 adjacent its inner wall 26 and moving the caponto a retainer 78 of L'-shaped cross section into engagement I withring 72 which-bears'against' an inner peripheral rim 80 within theopening. The spring 76 is interposed between retainer78 and a supportplate 82 secured to housing .48 by screws 84 (FIG. 2).--The plate 82 hasbushings for slidably supporting an expander shaft 86 of the stakingmechanism having a collar 88 and a helical spring 90 interposed betweenplate 82 and collar 88 for urging shaft 86 in a normal retractedposition against any suitable stop, not shown. A'cupshaped end cap 92(FIG. 2) issecured to plate 82 by screws for enclosing spring 90, andfurther has" a bushing through which shaft 86 is journaled. The stakinglevers 68 are provided with innerramps 94 which cooperate to form afrusto-conically shaped cavity into which a steel ball 96 is placedadjacent the end of shaft 86 as best'seen in FIG. 2. Accordingly, whenthe-staking head isin'the staking position, axial movement of shaft 86inwardly against the bias of spring 90 causessteel ball 96 to pivot thelevers 68 on pivot ring 72 causing shoes '74 to' move generally radiallyoutwardly engagingthe inner wall 26 of end cap 12 and crimping it to themagazine 14 to form a light-tight seal. Axial movement ofshaft may beaccomplished by power means such as anair cylinder having its piston-rodcoupled to the'shaft 86 by any suitable means.

To prevent interference between shoes 74 and the lowermost end cap 12 inchute 18 when the staking head is returned to its normal position, afinger 98 of arcuate cross section is secured to the inner periphery ofnose 46 and movable therewith for blocking the end cap feed chute whenthe aligned end cap is slidably moved along opening 30 onto a magazine.

The detecting mechanism of this invention for detecting an improperlycapped magazine 14 comprises a fluid passageway or groove 100 ofsubstantially T- shaped cross section (FIG. 2) provided along the innerperiphery of housing opening 66. The groove has a thin neck extending tothe periphery of opening 66- and arranged in alignment with and closedoff by retainer 78 in its normal position. The fit or clearance betweenthe outer periphery of retainer 78 and opening 66 is designed to permitslidable movement of the retainer within the opening with minimumleakage-of fluid such as air from groove 100. The groove has an enlargedbase or manifold of large volume with respect to its neck to assist inminimizing or reducing the criticalness of any fluid leakage past theretainer. The housing nose 46 and bushing plate 34 are provided with afluid port 102 as best seen in FIG. 3 through which fluid in groove 100is subjected to a positive or negative pressure. When a fluid such asoil is used, positive pressure is applied by any suitable means to port102. However, if a fluid such as air is used, either positive ornegative pressure may be applied to port 102. The housing and bushingare further provided with a fluid port 104 substantially diametricallyopposed from port 102 which is connected by tubing or the like to anysuitable fluidic pressure measuring device such as a sensor 106. Thefluidic sensor, as best seen in FIG. 6, is coupled to a gate, and if noincrease or decrease in pressure for a normal pressure is sensed, theflip-flop bistable circuit remains in its normal position in whichcyclical machine operation continues. However, if a change in pressureis sensed due to movement of retainer 78 out of blocking engagement withgroove 100 caused by interference between magazine 14 and end cap 12above the face plate 16, bushing plate 34, housing 48, and expandershaft 86 all move together as a unit until the face plate engages stop62. At such time, the end of magazine 14 extends approximately 0.090 ofan inch into face plate opening 30. Continued movement of housing 48causes shoes 74 of levers 68 to engage end cap 12, and to slide it alongface plate opening and onto the end of magazine 14. The flange 50 ofhousing 48 engages stop 64 designed to prevent any further movement ofbushing plate 34. and housing 48 after the end cap 12 is properly seatedon magazine 14. If the seating is proper, a solenoid operated fluidvalve (FIG. 6) is energized by the logic system for porting fluid underpressure to a fluid cylinder for axially moving expander shaft 86. Axialmovement of the expander shaft causes steel ball 96 to engage ramps 94and force staking shoes 74 generally radially outwardly. The shoes stakeend cap 12 onto magazine 14 by engaging the inner cap wall 26 andpressing or crimping the inner and outer cap walls 26, 28 respectivelytogether with the magazine end interposed therebetween. In thisoperation, the circular plate wall forming opening 30 serves as an anvilfor supporting the outer cap wall 28. Now, if during sucha stakingoperation, interference should occur between the magazine 14 and end cap12 of a predetermined value in excess of spring 76 for any reason suchas a misaligned magazine, or a bent magazine end or end cap, suchinterference will prevent further advance of staking levers 68.Continued movement of bushing plate 34 and housing 48 as a unit relativeto levers 68 and retainer 78 compresses a predetermined value set byspring 76, this condition in combination with an interrogation inputpulse from a logic control causes the bistable circuit to assume a newposition in which operation of the spooling machine including thecapping device is stopped at the end of a cycle, a reject chute isactuated, operation of the fluid cylinder and expander shaft of thestaking mechanism is inhibited, and an annunciator is actuated to alertthe operator.

, In the operation of this invention, the staking mechanism is initiallyin its normal position as seen in FIG. 2 in which expander shaft 86 isin its retracted position, staking levers 68 in their retractedposition, and face plate 16 and bushing plate 34 in their maximumseparated position. Let us assume that an end cap 12 has been gravityfed along chute 18 into the face plate opening 30 where it is releasablyheld by magnets 32, and a magazine 14 is placed in alignment therewith.Upon a signal from the logic system a solenoid operated fluid valve of aconventional type is energized for porting fluid such as oil or airto acylinder causing posts 52 to move housing 48. During such movement,

spring 76 and causes the neck of groove to be uncovered. This results ina change in fluid pressure which is sensed by fluidic sensor 106, and incombination with an interrogation pulse from the binary counter of thelogic system actuates the flip-flop bistable circuit. Actuation of thebistable circuit causes the spooling machine including the cappingdevice to stop after completion of the cycle of operation, the stakingmechanism to be inhibited, any suitable diverting mechanism (not shown)to be actuated for diverting the improperly sealed magazine into areject bin, and an annunciator actuated to alert the operator.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference toa preferred embodiment thereof, but it will be understood thatvariations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scopeof the invention as described hereinabove.

We claim:

1. In a staking mechanism for staking an end cap onto a magazine, thecombination comprising:

means for holding an end cap and magazine in alignment with one another;means for moving the end cap onto the magazine; staking means movablewith said moving means and operated in timed relation thereto whenenabled for staking the mounted end cap to the magazine; said stakingmeans being mounted for limited movement relative to said cap movingmeans;

detecting means responsive to relative movement between said movingmeans and said staking means for detecting interference between the endcap and magazine prior to the staking of the end cap onto the magazine;and

disabling means responsive to said detecting means for disabling saidstaking means when interference is detected.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said' detecting meanscomprises a fluidic sensor.

3. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said detecting meanscomprises a fluid passageway formed by said moving means and saidstaking means, said passageway being in a relatively fluid-tightcondition when said moving and staking means are in a normal position,and in a fluid-leaking condition when relative movement occurs betweensaid moving and staking means due to interference between the end capand magazine.

4. The invention according to claim 3 wherein said moving meanscomprises a housing having an opening of a predetermined configuration,and said staking means comprises a member of a correspondingconfiguration slidably mounted within said opening, and said fluidpassageway comprises a peripheral groove along the periphery of saidopening which cooperates with said member for movement between saidfluidtight and fluid-leaking conditions.

5. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said moving meanscomprises a movable housing having an axial opening of a predeterminedconfiguration; said staking means comprises staking fingers mountedwithin said opening for axial movement relative to said housing, anannular ring complementary to and slidably mounted within said openingand abutting said staking fingers, and a spring biasing said ringagainst said staking fingers; and said detecting means comprises aperipheral groove formed along the periphery of said opening inalignment with and having its open position blocked off by said ring toenclose said groove, a fluid inlet fluidly connected to said groove forsubjecting fluid in said groove to a predetermined pressure, a fluidoutlet fluidly connected to said groove, and a fluidic sensor fluidlyconnected to said fluid outlet for sensing the fluid pressure in saidgroove and adapted to actuate said disabling means when said pressure ischanged from said predetermined value caused by movement of said ringout of blocking engagement with said groove upon interference betweenthe end cap and magazine.

6. The invention according to claim 5 wherein said groove is of asubstantially Tshaped cross section.

7. The invention according to claim 6 wherein said groove is circularand comprises a manifold portion of a predetermined volume and a neckportion of a smaller volume fluidly connecting said manifold to theperiphery of said opening.

1. In a staking mechanism for staking an end cap onto a magazine, thecombination comprising: means for holding an end cap and magazine inalignment with one another; means for moving the end cap onto themagazine; staking means movable with said moving means and operated intimed relation thereto when enabled for staking the mounted end cap tothe magazine; said staking means being mounted for limited movementrelative to said cap moving means; detecting means responsive torelative movement between said moving means and said staking means fordetecting interference between the end cap and magazine prior to thestaking of the end cap onto the magazine; and disabling means responsiveto said detecting means for disabling said staking means wheninterference is detected.
 2. The invention according to claim 1 whereinsaid detecting means comprises a fluidic sensor.
 3. The inventionaccording to claim 1 wherein said detecting means comprises a fluidpassageway formed by said moving means and said staking means, saidpassageway being in a relatively fluid-tight condition when said movingand staking means are in a normal position, and in a fluid-leakingcondition when relative movement occurs between said moving and stakingmeans due to interference between the end cap and magazine.
 4. Theinvention according to claim 3 wherein said moving means comprises ahousing having an opening of a predetermined configuration, and saidstaking means comprises a member of a corresponding configurationslidably mounted within said opening, and said fluid passagewaycomprises a peripheral groove along the periphery of said opening whichcooperates with said member for movement between said fluid-tight andfluid-leaking conditions.
 5. The invention according to claim 1 whereinsaid moving means comprises a movable housing having an axial opening ofa predetermined configuration; said staking means comprises stakingfingers mounted within said opening for axial movement relative to saidhousing, an annular ring complementary to and slidably mounted withinsaid opening and abutting said staking fingers, and a spring biasingsaid ring against said staking fingers; and said detecting meanscomprises a peripheral groove formed along the periphery of said openingin alignment with and having its open position blocked off by said ringto enclose said groove, a fluid inlet fluidly connected to said groovefor subjecting fluid in said groove to a predetermined pressure, a fluidoutlet fluidly connected to said groove, and a fluidic sensor fluidlyconnected to said fluid outlet for sensing the fluid pressure in saidgroove and adapted to actuate said disabling means when said pressure ischanged from said predetermined value caused by movement of said ringout of blocking engagement with said groove upon interference betweenthe end cap and magazine.
 6. The invention according to claim 5 whereinsaid groove is of a substantially T-shaped cross section.
 7. Theinvention according to claim 6 wherEin said groove is circular andcomprises a manifold portion of a predetermined volume and a neckportion of a smaller volume fluidly connecting said manifold to theperiphery of said opening.